Portable guide jig for hand drill

ABSTRACT

A universal portable jig adapted to be hand held and to hold and support a portable electric drill at an adjustable predetermined angle relative to a surface to be penetrated by the bit of said drill which comprises: first and second substantially troughshaped main support members each having open ends, the second support member being nested in the first support member and pivotally supported thereby; pivoted adjustment being possible by virtue of the floor of the first support member being foreshortened; means for locking the first and second support members in predetermined pivotal angle relationship; and means for mounting the drill within and to the second support member, said mounting means being slideable longitudinally of the support member whereby the drill is advanceable towards an end of the jig to allow the bit to be operatively extended.

Harwood [451 May 7,197

[ PORTABLE GUIDE JIG F OR HAND DRILL [76] Inventor: William J. Harwood, 8545 Sand Beach Rd., Harbor Beach, Mich. 48441 [22] Filed: Feb. 11, 11973 [21] Appl. No.: 328,561

[51] Int. Cl B23b 49/00 [58] Field of Search ..408/ll0,ll1, 112,115 R, 408/72, 99, 234

Primary Examiner-Gil Weidenfeld Attorney, Agent, or Firm-N. Jerome Rudy [5 7] ABSTRACT A universal portable jig adapted to be hand held and to hold and support a portable electric drill at an adjustable predetermined angle relative to a surface to be penetrated by the bit of said drill which comprises: first and second substantially trough-shaped main support members each having open ends, the second support member being nested in the first support member and pivotally supported thereby; pivoted adjustment being possible by virtue of the floor of the first support member being foreshortened; means for locking the first and second support members in predetermined pivotal angle relationship; and means for mounting the drill within and to the second support member, said mounting means being slideable longitudinally of the support member whereby the drill is advanceable towards an end of the jig to allow the bit to be operatively extended.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PORTABLE GUIDE IN; FOR HAND DRILL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable device for steadying and guiding a portable electric drill of most heavy to be readily held by hand. Other devices which are portable suffer from the need for an unusually long bit to reach the workpiece or are so designed as to require differently spaced guide bars for each size or make of drill.-

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of the invention to provide a portable jig for holding and guiding a portable electric drill during the drilling of holes in a surface at a predetermined angle in the range of about 90 to about 45 or less, which device is actually and truly light enough to be: readily hand held; readily adjusted as to angle of approach'to the surface; and universalas'to adaptability to hold and guide most any make andsize of portable drill; and, further and in addition, relatively inexpensive to construct and maintain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The apparatus of the invention is a universal portable jig adapted to be hand-held and to hold and support a portable electric drill at an adjustable predetermined angle relative to a surface to be penetrated by the bit of said drill. In basic essence, the apparatus of the pres ent invention comprises: first and second substantially rectangular trough-shaped main support members each having open ends, the second support member being nested in the first support member and pivotally supported thereby by fastening members adjacent an end of the jig, and the floor of the first support member being foreshortened at the end of the jig adjacent the fastening members; means for locking the first and second support members in predetermined pivotal angle relationship; and means for mounting a portable electric drill within and to the second support member, said means for mounting being slideable longitudinally of SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation partly broken away and in section which shows the apparatus of the invention with a portable electric drill mounted therein and with the bit thereof extending operatively from an end of the apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation of the same apparatus shown in FIG. I, but with the inner trough-shaped support member inclined at an angle with respect to the outer support member;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the apparatus showing the end which faces a surface to be penetrated by the bit of the drill;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the apparatus with the drill I of FIG. 1 omitted in order to more clearly illustrate the slideable mounting means for the drill;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary portion of a view similar to FIG. 3 showing an embodiment of the present apparatus wherein 'the floors of both support members are transversely expandable; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of theunderside of the apparatus of FIG. 5 further illustrating the construction of the transversely expandable floors.

PARTICULARIZED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring first to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the present apparatus is seen to have a first outer-trough-s'haped support member 10, with open ends; a second trough-shaped support member 11, with open ends which is nested therein and pivotally supported therefrom by means of fastening members 12 located adjacent an end of the jig; and means for mounting an electric drill 13 on the floor 14 of the support member 11, said means being a raised elongated, planar, rectangular track member 15 fixedly attached to the floor 14, and a rectangular planar guide member 16 superposed and slideable on the track member 15 and being held thereto by generally U-shaped flange portions 17 of the guide member 16 which flange portions 17 extends longitudinally. along each lateral edge thereof and past and around the corresponding lateral edges 18 of the track member 15.

Support, member 10 is of rectangular trough shape, being made up of sidewalls 19 connected by a floor 20. The support member 11 is also of rectangular trough shape, having sidewalls 21 connected by a floor 14 of a width that is more narrow than that of the floor 20 so that the support member 1]. slides easily between the sidewalls 19 of the first support member 10 in assembling the apparatus. The second support member 11 is pivotally supported by means of fastening members 12, the axes of which are substantially co-aligned and which each extend rotatably through one sidewall of each support member adjacent an end 22 of the first support member 10. This is adjacent and above the floor 20 thereof, as well as above the fioor 14 of the second support member 11. The floor 20 of the first support member 10 is foreshortened at each end 22, 23, extending only from about the vicinity of the fastening members 12 towards the remote end 23 of the first support member 10. This permits pivotal adjustment of the second support member 11.

' The pivotal movement is adjustable and controlled by means of an arcuate slot 24 which is formed in one of the sidewalls 19 of the first support member 10 above the fastening member 12 and approximately between the fastening member ll2 and a free edge 25 of the sidewall remote from the floor 20, and a threaded fastener element 26 afi'ixed in the adjacent sidewall 21 of the second support member 11 and extending through the slot 2d. There is a nut element 27, preferably a wing nut, threaded on fastener element 26 and bridging the slot 24. Tightening the nut element 27 against the sidewall 19 restricts and locks the threaded The slot has a radius of curvature centered at the adjacent fastening member 12 and extends at least along an arc of about 35 from a line drawn perpendicularly from the floor 20 or floor 14 and passing through the axis of the fastening member l2and angularly forwardly towards the remote end 23 of the first support member (i.e., the remote end of the jig).'Generally the arc is also extended somewhat back of the said perpendicular line to afford an even greater amount of angular adjustment for very shallow angles of drilling, such as 30 to 45 though these angles are'only feasible, practically, in drilling into softer materials of construction and less often practiced. A comparison of FIGS. 1 and .2 shows the displacement of the threaded fastener element 26 along the slot 24' in pivoting the support member 11 relative to support member 10.

The first support member 10 is provided at end 23 thereof with mutually coplanar, transversely'outwardly extending flange portions 28 which act as a support base for the jig and are placed on the surface to be penetrated by the bit of the drill when the jig is in use.

These flange portions may be omitted, if desired. However, they d0 add a desired degree of stability as well as a decreased tendency of the jig to slide across the surface to be penetrated, during the drilling operation.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, the means for mounting the electric drill 13 is seen to include positioning blocks 29 extending longitudinallyalong eitherlateral edge, of the guide member 16. These positioning blocks 29 are generally triangular in section and present an inwardly sloping surface at each side of the guide member 16 so as to cradle the electric drill.

In this connection, it should be taken into account that some brands of electric drills have a housing which is smaller closer to the handle grip. Accordingly, the

positioning blocks which would otherwise be uniform. in cross section are best made larger in section throughout the portion of each block supportingsuch smaller portion of the drill housingThe difference in size in the different parts of the positioning blocks is thus sufficient to afford leveling of the drill so that the drill bit in the chuck of the drill extends along a line parallel to the plane of the mounting means along which the drill is slideably carried as it advances during drilling of holes.

Also, as is evident in and may be seen in FIG. 4, the slideable guide member 16 is shorter than the track member so that a useful amount of movement is afforded the guide member 16 as it slides back and forth. The electric drill'being utilized may. be fastened to the guide member in most any convenient way that holds the drill firmly so that it does not rock or waggle so as to damage the drill bit during drilling. A convenient means of attachment is to use fabric straps or belts 30 as are shown in FIG. 4. These are attached to the guide member 16 or the positioning blocks 29, the straps reaching over the drill motor housing and buckling or otherwise connecting tightly over the drill.

In using the jig of the invention, a conventional electric drill, such as one of the common drills adapted to accept in the chuck thereof a bit having a shank in the range of one-quarter to three-eighths inch diameter, is placed in the inner trough-shaped support member, on

the positioning blocks with the handle grip up and the jig where the fastening members hold the first and second support members together pivotally. The fastening straps are pulled together over the electric drill and'secured with the drill positioned so that the bit extends along a line parallel to the plane of the slideable guide member, which is ordinarily parallel to the plane of the floor of the inner or second support member. The wing nut to the fastener element isloosened and the inner support member is pivoted away from the outer or first support member to the extent necessary to provide the desired angle of approach of the drill bit to a surface, for example, the angle depicted in FIG. 2.

Preferably, the edges of the arcuate slot along which the fastener element moves .during such adjustment is provided with a calibrated and graduated scale showing the numerical size of the angle between the support members.

In using the drill to make holes, the jig with the electric drill mounted therein is manually placed against the surface to be penetrated with the flange portions firmly flat against the surface, with the associated drill bit being aimed at the point where a hole is desired and the trigger switch or other switch as may be provided on the electric drill is actuated. This then turns on the drill motor. The drill is subsequently and sequentially manually urged toward the surface to be penetrated and is moved along a straight line path as the guide member slides along on the track member until the bit touches the said surface and continued manual pressure urges the turning bit into the surface to the desired depth, whereupon the drill is readily backed off along a straight line withoutdamaging the bit.

In this way and manner, a hole is-made which is accurate in location and direction, and without the drill bit deviating from its desired path and without angular variation in the direction of attack of the bit during drilling.

The jig of the invention may if desired be made entirely from wood, such as plywood sheet of, say, about one-quarter inch thickness. However, in such case the fastener element and wing nut, the fastening mambers, and the mounting means are nonetheless probably better of metal or plastic material.

For greater stability and durability, the jig is preferably made of a light weight metal of construction, such asap all y f a nes aml qe asAZJ) o a alloy of aluminum containing magnesium or silicon as a strengthening addition, the sidewalls and floors and flanges and such. in each member being joined, preferably, by welding or soldering or brazing as well understood in the metal working arts. Of course, steel and/or plastic materials can also be utilized as materials of construction for the jig assembly of the present invention.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, portions of which are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the floor 60 of the first support member is provided in the form of two elongated overlapping sheets 31 and 32. Each sheet is provided with at least two transverse slots, 33, each of which is aligned with slots in the mating piece. This is pursuant to structures that are well understood in the art in providing an expandable trough or box. All of it, accordingly, is held together by a fastener 34, such as the bolt 35 and wing nut 36 shown.

Similarly, the floor 37 of the second support member is provided in the form of two elongated overlapping rectangular sheets 38, 39. Each sheet 38, 39 is provided with atleast two transverse slots 40 aligned with slots in the other, or mating, sheet, andthe sheets held together by a fastener 41 extending through each slot and bridging the same, such as the bolt 42 and wing nut 43 shown. A track member 44 with a wider flange support 45 on one longitudinal side than the other provides a level supporting surface for the guide member 46 on which the electric drill is mounted in this embodiment of the present jig. The flange supports 45 47 are attached to the respective longitudinally divided floor portions or sheets 38, 39 by fasteners 48, 49 which, when loosened, are slideable in respective transverse slots 50, 51 in the respective sheets 38, 39, thus affording a-centering of the mounting means after changing the transverse width of the inner support member.

Many changes and modifications can readily be made and adapted in embodiments in accordance with the present invention without substantially departing from its apparent and intended spirit and scope, all in pursuance and accordance with same as is set forth and defined in the hereto appended claims.

What is claimed is: l. A portable jig adapted to be hand held and to hold and support a portable electric drill at an adjustable predetermined angle relative to a surface to be penetrated by the bit of said drill, which comprises:

first and second substantially rectangular troughshaped main support members each having opposed sidewalls connected by a floor, and each having open ends,

the second support member being nested in the first support member and pivotally supported thereby by first and second fastening members, said fastening members each being adjacent and apart from a common end of the jig,

and the floor of the firstsupport member being foreshortened at the end of the jig adjacent the fastening members; means for locking the first and second support members in predetermined pivotal angle relationship;

and on the floor of said second support member; means for mounting 'the portable electric drill within and to the second support member,

said means for mounting being slideable longitudinally of said floor whereby the drill is advanceable towards an end of the jig so as to allow the said bit to be operatively extended. 2. The jig of claim 1, wherein: the sidewalls of each of the first and second support members are substantially parallel and aligned,

the second support member nesting closely inside the first member and being pivotally supported thereby by means of said first and second fastening members each extending through one sidewall of each support member adjacent a common end of the jig but above the floor of the second support member,

and the fastening members each having an axis of rotation and said axes being substantially co-aligned,

the floor of the first support member being foreshortened, extending only from the vicinity of the fastening members toward the end of the first support member remote therefrom,

thereby permitting the floor of the second support member to be pivotal through an angle of at least about 45 degrees with respect to the floor of the first support member.

3. The jig of claim'2, wherein:

the ends of the sidewalls of the first support member remote from the fastening members are each provided with mutuallyv coplanar and outwardly extending flange portions adapted to be placed on the surface to be penetrated by said bit and to act as a support base for the jig when in use.

4. The jig of claim 2, wherein:

the means for locking the support members together at a predetermined angle is a threaded fastener element affixed in the sidewall of the second support member and extending therefrom and through an arcuate slot formed through the sidewall of the first support member and adjustably locked thereto by a nut element threaded on the threaded fastener element and bridging said slot,

said slot being adjacent a said fastening member extending through the same sidewall and said slot being positioned at least approximately between the fastening member and the free edge of the sidewall furthest from the floor,

- the radius of curvature of the slot being centered at said fastening member,

the said slot extending through an arc of at least about 35 forwardly from a line drawn perpendicularly from the plane of the floor and passing through the axis of the fastening member and extending toward the remote end of the jig, and said threaded fastener element being freely movable along said slot when the nut element is not tightened against the sidewall of the first support member.

5. The jig of claim 2, wherein:

the floor of each support member is compound longitudinally of the jig and adjustably expandable transversely, thereby and therewith to widen the jig to accommodate electric drills of various widths.

6. The jig of claim ll, wherein:

the said mounting means comprises a raised elongated, planar, rectangular track member fixedly mounted on the floor of said second support member,

a rectangular planar guide member superposed and slideable on said track member,

positioning blocks along the lateral edges of said the track member.

i l i l 4 

1. A portable jig adapted to be hand held and to hold and support a portable electric drill at an adjustable predetermined angle relative to a surface tO be penetrated by the bit of said drill, which comprises: first and second substantially rectangular trough-shaped main support members each having opposed sidewalls connected by a floor, and each having open ends, the second support member being nested in the first support member and pivotally supported thereby by first and second fastening members, said fastening members each being adjacent and apart from a common end of the jig, and the floor of the first support member being foreshortened at the end of the jig adjacent the fastening members; means for locking the first and second support members in predetermined pivotal angle relationship; and on the floor of said second support member; means for mounting the portable electric drill within and to the second support member, said means for mounting being slideable longitudinally of said floor whereby the drill is advanceable towards an end of the jig so as to allow the said bit to be operatively extended.
 2. The jig of claim 1, wherein: the sidewalls of each of the first and second support members are substantially parallel and aligned, the second support member nesting closely inside the first member and being pivotally supported thereby by means of said first and second fastening members each extending through one sidewall of each support member adjacent a common end of the jig but above the floor of the second support member, and the fastening members each having an axis of rotation and said axes being substantially co-aligned, the floor of the first support member being foreshortened, extending only from the vicinity of the fastening members toward the end of the first support member remote therefrom, thereby permitting the floor of the second support member to be pivotal through an angle of at least about 45 degrees with respect to the floor of the first support member.
 3. The jig of claim 2, wherein: the ends of the sidewalls of the first support member remote from the fastening members are each provided with mutually coplanar and outwardly extending flange portions adapted to be placed on the surface to be penetrated by said bit and to act as a support base for the jig when in use.
 4. The jig of claim 2, wherein: the means for locking the support members together at a predetermined angle is a threaded fastener element affixed in the sidewall of the second support member and extending therefrom and through an arcuate slot formed through the sidewall of the first support member and adjustably locked thereto by a nut element threaded on the threaded fastener element and bridging said slot, said slot being adjacent a said fastening member extending through the same sidewall and said slot being positioned at least approximately between the fastening member and the free edge of the sidewall furthest from the floor, the radius of curvature of the slot being centered at said fastening member, the said slot extending through an arc of at least about 35* forwardly from a line drawn perpendicularly from the plane of the floor and passing through the axis of the fastening member and extending toward the remote end of the jig, and said threaded fastener element being freely movable along said slot when the nut element is not tightened against the sidewall of the first support member.
 5. The jig of claim 2, wherein: the floor of each support member is compound longitudinally of the jig and adjustably expandable transversely, thereby and therewith to widen the jig to accommodate electric drills of various widths.
 6. The jig of claim 1, wherein: the said mounting means comprises a raised elongated, planar, rectangular track member fixedly mounted on the floor of said second support member, a rectangular planar guide member superposed and slideable on said track member, positioning blocks along the lateral edges of said guide member, and means for fastening the electric drill to said guide member, the guide member being planar, substantially rectangular and foreshortened relative to said track member and being slideably held thereto by a U-shaped flange portion of the guide member extending longitudinally along each lateral edge and past and around the corresponding lateral edges of the track member. 